Dispenser package for cigarettes or articles of similar shape



Dec. 26, 1967 l F. BLUM 3,360,114

DISPENSER PACKAGE FOR CIGARETTES OR ARTICLES OF SIMILAR SHAPE Filed Dec. 5. 1964 g l i 1a iw? \4 'E a ab 2.6/ 4 2f Q23 15 5 United States Patent O 3,360,114 DISPENSER PACKAGE FOR `CIGARETTES ARTICLES OF SIMILAR SHAPE Fred Blum, 43-10 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, N.Y. 11355 Filed Dec. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 415,669 10 Claims. (Cl. 206-41.2)

ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Container for compactly packed articles such as cigarettes is formed of a walled enclosure of which one Wall is hinged at one side to an adjacent wall thereof, a panel is hinged to a side of the one wall opposite the one side thereof and is slidingly received in the enclosure. A flap extends substantially at right angles to the one wall from a side thereof transverse to the opposite sides and is also slidingly received in the enclosure. The one wall, panel and flap are swingable outwardly as a unit for expanding the volume of the enclosure and simultaneously exposing an opening opposite the flap. Thus an article is disengageable from the compactly packed articles in the enclosure and is dischargeable from the opening. A blank for producing the container has top portions, bottom portions and a substantially rectangular body portion intermediate the top and bottom portions. The body portion has a plurality of fold lines dividing it into adjacent panels consisting of a first side panel hingedly connected at opposite sides to a pair of end panels, respectively, one of the end panels being hingedly connected to a second side panel and the other of the end panels being connected to a composite panel. The top portions and the bottom portions are panels of substantially equal size hingedly connected to the first and second side panels respectively. The top portions also include a quadrilateral fiap hingedly connected to the one end panel, and a pentagonal tab, hingedly connected 4along part of a side thereof to the composite panel. The bottom portions also include a quadrilateral flap, hingedly connected to the lone end panel, and a flap having a curved edge and hinlgedly connected to the other end panel.

Specification This invention relates to a dispensing package for cigarettes or objects of similar shape.

In conventionally paper-wrapped cigarette packages, the separation and removal of the first cigarette is extremely difiicult because of the usual compact and tight packaging of the cigarettes. Furthermore, opening of the package is in itself a rather cumbersome operation.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a dispenser package which will facilitate the separation and removal of a first cigarette therefrom.

It is another object of my invention to provide a dispenser package which can be opened while simultaneously separating the first cigarette from the tight assemblage of cigarettes.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a dispenser package which is expansible to a -greater volume so as to provide added space for accommodating the separated first cigarette. y

It is a further object of my invention to provide a dispenser package Which can be opened and expanded to a greater volume simultaneously.

It is an additional object of my invention to provide a dispenser package that is expansible to a greater volume With means for controlling the size and shape of the space constituting the increased volume.

It is a concomitant object of my invention to provide Ia '3,360,114 Patented Dec. 26, 1967 dispenser package for cigarettes which will not accidentally open.

It is furthermore an object of my invention to provide a dispenser package for cigarettes which is highly hygienic since it permits removal of individual cigarettes without manipulating other cigarettes in the package.

Features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a dispenser package for cigarettes or similar shaped articles, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser package according to my invention, shown in closed condition;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line II-II in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line III-III in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a perspective View of the dispenser package of FIG. l shown in open condition;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 taken along the line V-V in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 taken along the line VI-VI in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the blank from which the dispenser package is formed.

Referring now to the drawings and first particularly to FIG. 7 there is shown a blank which may be made of paper, cardboard, metal foil, plastic, stiff cloth or any other suitable material. To form the dispenser package from the blank, a substantially rectangular body portion including an unfolded composite blank section 1, 2, 3 is folded upwardly toward the viewer of FIG. 7 along a score line 4 to a position perpendicular to a wall panel 5; similarly, an unfolded composite blank section 6, 7 of the body portion is folded upwardly along a score line 8 to a position perpendicular to the wall panel 5. The unfolded composite blank section 2, 3 is then folded inwardly along a score line 9 to a position perpendicular to the panel 1 and parallel to the wall panel 5. The wall panel 7 is subsequently folded along a score line 10 to a position perpendicuar to the Wall panel 6 and parallel with the Wall panel 5, such that the wall panel 7 is superimposed on the still unfolded composite blank section 2, 3 and an upper liap 11 becomes superimposed on an upper sliding tab 12. Then an upper inside flap 13, a lower inside flap 14, and a lower sliding tab 15 are simultaneously folded inwardly along the respective score lines 16, 17, and 18 to a position where the flap 13, flap 14 and tab 15 are all parallel to each other. The upper intermediate flap 11 together with its underlying upper sliding tab 12 are then folded along a score line 19 and a line 20a, 20b respectively, and a lower intermediate flap 21 is simultaneously folded along a score line 22; thereafter, the upper outside flap 23 land lower outside flap 25 are folded along their respective score lines 24 and 26 to complete the formation of the package.

The contents may be inserted in the package between two appropriate folding stages. The exact folding sequence need not necessarily conform to the foregoing description. As to the conditionsof parallelism, perpendicularity and the like which have been hereinbefore prescribed, it is understood that the specific characteristics of the contents of the dispenser package and/or the mechanics of manufacturing may require slight variations and tolerances. All such deviations are considered to be within the scope of this invention. Similarly, the relative magnitudes of the dimensions shown in FIG. 7 may be subject to slight deviations which are also considered to be within the scope of the invention.

The contents of the dispenser package are preferably elongated articles of essentially circular cross section, and the preferred arrangement of these contents in the dispenser package, especially in a package of rectangular cross section, is in the form of an odd number of rows of the articles, the outermost rows having one article more than the adjacent rows, and alternate rows having the same number of articles, as shown in FIG. 2. Other arrangements of the contents are however also possible and are conidered to be within the scope of the invention requiring only slight changes in design features.

To dispense an article, more particularly a cigarette 29, the users linger or thumb engages the composite blank section or slidable element 2 exposed by a notch 27 cut into the wall panel 7. As the slidable element 2, 3 is slid outward, the volume of the package is increased and a dispensing space 28 is formed. The rstcigarette 29 is simultaneously dislodged from its compact assembly, and carried into the dispensing space 28. The sliding element 2, 3 tends to move the row of cigarettes adjacent to it due to frictional engagement therebetween. The loosening of the first cigarette 29 is similarly effected due to frictional entrainment thereof by the tab which is movable with the sliding element 2, 3 since it is integral with the wall panel 1, and provides a steady supporting area for the first cigarette as the slidable element 2, 3 is manipulated. When the dispensing space 28 reaches the desired i.e. largest volume (FIGS. 4, 5, 6), the first cigarette 29 is afforded completely unrestricted motion and is loosely supported therein so that the cigarette 29 can be shaken out freely when the dispenser package is partly inverted. When the opening 28a (FIG. 4) of the dispensing space is at its largest, the visible portion of the composite sliding element 2, 3 consists only of the panel 2 and the small part of panel 3 which is exposed through notch 27. The score line 30 then coincides with the edge 31 of panel 7.

The function of score line 30 is to facilitate the flexing of the panel 2 (FIGS. 4, 5, 6). To increase the flexibility of the panel 2, additional score lines on the panel 2 paral lel to the score lines 9 and 30 can be provided. A number of relatively short slits 32 perpendicular to the edge 33a can also be made. By providing an additional short slit 34 on the upper portion of line 30, there will be no actu-al enhancement of the flexing of panel 2 proper, however, the resistance of the material to flexure will be reduced.

The desired or largest size of the opening 28a of the dispensing space 28 is controlled by tabs 12 and 15, both of which not only move with the sliding element 2, 3, but are so shaped that they arrest the movement of the sliding element when the desired magnitude of the opening 28a to the dispensing space 28 is attained, or more particularly when the edge 35 abuts the panel 1 just below its upper edge 36, and when the straight portion of the edge 37 abuts the panel 3 just above its lower edge 33h. Sliding tab 15 is shaped so that it forms a closed `bottom wall for the dispensing space 28, while sliding tab 12 limits the dispensing opening 28a through which the cigarette is shaken out of the space 28. If it is desired to have an opening at both ends of the dispensing space 28, e.g. so that the dispenser package can be held in a position in which its longer axis is .horizontally disposed, tab 15 can be given a shape similar to tab 12.

In order to prevent the sliding element 2, 3 from sliding out accidentally, one or more of the following features are provided to impede the movement of the sliding element: As shown in FIG. 7, an angular slit 38 is formed along part of the folding edge h. In the closed condition of the dispenser package, tab 12 lies above flap 13 (FIG. 2); flap 13 is thus wedged into the slit 38 and press-fitted therein. Flap 13 is of such dimensions that its edge 39 is in close contact with edge 19, and similarly, the edge 40 of tab 12 is in close contact with the edge 24, thereby increasing the effect of the p-ress or squeeze-fit which is still further increased by the pressure of the superimposed flaps 11 and 23. The lower edge 33a, 33b of the sliding element 2, 3 is pressed tightly against the wall panel 7 due to the suitably dimensioned width of the flap 21 which is located slightly higher than the edge 33a, 33h and thus forms a channel in which the edge 33a, 33h rides with friction. The frictional force is increased by the even further elevated flap 14 with its edge 41 lying directly above the edge 42 of flap 21, thus increasing the height of the channel over the length of the edge 41. The space between the edge 41 and the edge 26 need not necessarily be bounded by parallel lines, but may be formed to a small angle to effect another squeeze-fit. Additional sliding friction may be obtained by roughening the mutually engaging surfaces or by any other suitable means.

I claim:

1. Container for compactly packed articles such as cigarettes and the like, comprising a walled enclosure of predetermined volume, one of the walls of said enclosure being hinged at one side to `an adjacent wall thereof, a panel hinged to a side of said one wall opposite said one side thereof and slidngly received in said enclosure, and a ap extending substantially at right angles to said one wall from a side thereof transverse to said opposite sides and also slidingly received in said enclosure, said one wall, panel and flap being swingable outwardly as a unit for expanding the volume of said enclosure and simultaneously exposing .an opening opposite said flap for discharging therethrough an article disengageable from the compactly packed articles in said enclosure and receivable in the expanded volume defined by said unit.

2. Container for compactly packed articles such as cigarettes and the like, comprising a walled enclosure of predetermined volume, one of the walls of said enclosure being hinged at one side to an adjacent Wall thereof, a panel hinged to a side of said one wall opposite said one side thereof and slidingly received in said enclosure, a flap extending substantially at right angles to said one wall from a side thereof transverse to said opposite sides and also slidingly received in said enclosure, said one wall, panel and flap being swingable outwardly as a unit for expanding the volume of said enclosure and simultaneously exposing an opening opposite said flap for discharging therethrough an article disengageable from the compactly packed articles in said enclosure and receivable in the expanded volume defined by said unit, and means for limiting the outward swing of said one wall, panel and flap unit.

3. Container according to claim 2, said limiting means comprising a tab hingedly connected substantially perpendicularly to said panel and having an edge adapted to abut said one wall in an outwardly swung limiting position of said unit. v

4. Container according to claim 2, said limiting means comprising an edge formed on said flap and abuttingly engageable with said panel in an outwardly swung limiting position of said unit.

5. Container according to claim 1, wherein said panel is formed with a plurality of substantially parallel slits for increasing the flexibility of at least a portion thereof.

6. Container according to claim 1 wherein said panel is formed with a score line spaced from and substantially parallel to the side of said one wall to which said panel is hinged so as to increase the flexibility of the panel portion between said score line and said side of said one wall to which said panel is hinged.

7. Container for compactly packed articles such as cigarettes and the like, comprising a walled enclosure of predetermined volume, one of the walls of said enclosure being hinged at one side to an adjacent wall thereof, a panel hinged to a side of said one wall opposite said one side thereof and slidingly received in said enclosure, a ap extending substantially at right angles to said one wall from a side thereof transverse to said opposite sides and also slidingly received in said enclosure, said one wall, panel and flap being swingable outwardly as a unit for expanding the volume of said enclosure and simultaneously exposing an opening opposite said flap for discharging therethrough, an article disengageable from the compactly packed articles in said enclosure and receivable in the expanded volume defined by said unit, and means for positively retaining said one wall, panel and flap unit in closed position whereby accidental opening of the container is prevented.

8. Container for compactly packed cigarettes and the like comprising an enclosure of substantially rectangular cross section, said enclosure being defined by five xed walls and a movable wall hinged at one side to a side of one of said fixed walls, a panel hinged to a side of said movable wall opposite to said one side thereof and sliding- 1y received in said enclosure, and a flap extending substantially at right angles to said movable Wall from a side thereof extending transversely between said hinged sides thereof, said flap being also slidingly received in said enclosure, said one wall, said panel and said iiap being swingable outwardly in unison to a position in which they define a dispensing space having an opening opposite said iiap for discharging therethrough a first cigarette able to be loosened from the compactly packed cigarettes and receivable in the dispensing space.

9. Blank for producing a container for compactly packed articles such as cigarettes and the like, comprising top portions, bottom portions and a substantially rectangular body portion intermediate said top and bottom portions, said body portion having a plurality of fold lines dividing it into adjacent panels consisting of a first side panel hingedly connected at opposite sides to a pair of end panels, respectively, one of said end panels being hingedly connected to a second side panel, the other of said end panels being hingedly connected to a composite panel, said top portions and said bottom portions comprising panels of substantially equal size hingedly connected to said first and second side panels respectively, said top portions also including a quadrilateral Hap hingedly connected to said one end panel and a pentagonal tab hingedly connected along part of a side thereof to said composite panel,

and said bottom portions also comprising a quadrilateral Hap hingedly connected to said one end panel and a ap having a curved edge and hingedly connected to said other end panel.

10. Blank for producing a container for compactly packed articles such as cigarettes and the like, comprising top portions, bottom portions and a substantially rectangular body portion intermediate said top portions and said bottom portions and formed with fold lines therebetween, said body portion having a plurality of substantially parallel fold lines located transversely to the fold lines between said top and bottom portions, respectively, and dividing said body portion into adjacent substantially rectangular panels consisting of a first side panel 0f specific width hingedly connected at opposite sides to a pair of end panels respectively of substantially equal width, one of said end panels being hingedly connected to a second side panel of substantially the same width as that of said first side panel, the other of said end panels being hingedly connected to a composite panel consisting of a relatively narrow first panel portion hinged to a second panel portion having a width greater than that of said end panels and less than that of said side panels, said top portions and said bottom portions comprising substantially rectangular panels of substantially equal size hingedly connected to said first and said second side panels, respectively, said top portions also comprising a quadrilateral fiap hingedly connected to said one end panel and a pentagonal tab hingedly connected along part of a side thereof to said second panel portion of said composite panel, and said bottom portions also comprising Ia substantially square flap hingedly connected to said one end panel and a substantially trapezoidal flap having a curved edge and being hingedly connected to said other end panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,035,246 3/1936 Rea 2064l.2 2,067,723 l/l937 Nahm et al 229-17 2,343,857 3/1944 Morgenroty 229-17 3,019,892 2/ 1962 Gellert 20G-41.2

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. LOUIS G. MANCENE, Examiner. 

1. CONTAINER FOR COMPACTLY PACKED ARTICLES SUCH AS CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING A WALLED ENCLOSURE OF PREDETERMINED VOLUME, ONE OF THE WALLS OF SAID ENCLOSURE BEING HINGED AT ONE SIDE TO AN ADJACENT WALL THEREOF, A PANEL HINGED TO A SIDE OF SAID ONE WALL OPPOSITE SAID ONE SIDE THEREOF AND SLIDINGLY RECEIVED IN SAID ENCLOSURE, AND A FLAP EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID ON E WALL FROM A SIDE THEREOF TRANSVERSE TO SAID OPPOSITE SIDES AND ALSO SLIDINGLY RECEIVED IN SAID ENCLOSURE, SAID ONE WALL, PENEL AND FLAP BEING SWINGABLE OUTWARDLY AS A UNIT FOR EXPANDING THE VOLUME OF SAID ENCLOSURE AND SIMULTANEOUSLY EXPOSING AN OPENING OPPOSITE SAID FLAP FOR DISCHARGING THERETHROUGH AN ARTICLE DISENGAGEABLE FROM THE COMPACTLY PACKED ARTICLES IN SAID ENCLOSURE AND RECEIVABLE IN THE EXPANDED VOLUME DEFINED BY SAID UNIT. 